Tuscarawas News Detail

Kent State’s 2013 Business Concept Competition Open to Aspiring Entrepreneurs

Posted Feb. 4, 2013

A staff member works in Kent State's Blackstone
LaunchPad office at the Kent Student Center. The Blackstone
LaunchPad program emphasizes entrepreneurship as a
viable career path, and is co-sponsoring this year's Business
Concept Competition.

The sixth annual Kent State Business Concept Competition can help aspiring entrepreneurs turn their business ideas into cash. The competition is open to Kent State undergraduate and graduate students of all majors with a great idea for a new app, product, clothing line or service. Applications are due Feb. 19 and can be found at www.kent.edu/cebi/competitions.cfm.

The competition is co-sponsored by Kent State’s Center for Entrepreneurship and Business Innovation and the Blackstone LaunchPad program at Kent State. This is the first year the Blackstone LaunchPad program will co-sponsor the competition.

“This competition is a great way for students of all majors at Kent State to pitch their new business ideas, receive feedback and possibly win seed funding to help launch that ides,” says Julie Messing, executive director of Entrepreneurship Initiatives at Kent State.

Awards will be given for first, second and third place winners, receiving $1,500, $750 and $500, respectively.
Applicants can enter as individuals or teams, and teams are limited to one to five members. The application requires a two-minute concept pitch video. “Record your pitch” workshops will be held on Feb. 8 and Feb. 14 for applicants to borrow equipment to record and edit their video pitches. Visit www.kent.edu/cebi/competitions.cfm to register for the workshops.

Finalists will be announced Feb. 22. Each finalist will present a seven-minute live pitch presentation on Feb. 28.